Effect of Cervical Stabilization Exercises on the Respiratory Function of Stroke Patients

This study was to investigate the effects of cervical stabilizing exercise and breathing retraining exercise to improve the respiratory function in elderly stroke patients. Experimental 1group performed cervical stabilizing exercise and respiratory breathing retraining exercise for 30minutes in addition to the conventional exercise. Experimental 2group performed the respiratory breathing retraining exercise in addition to the conventional exercise and control group performed the self-respiration exercise for 30minutes after the instruction of physiotherapist. Forced Vital Capacity showed significant differences not only between experimental 1group and control group, but also between experimental 2group and control group. This result may represent the improvement of overall respiratory function and it is believed that cervical stabilizing exercise accompanied with respiratory breathing retraining is helpful to improve activities of daily living and motor function by increasing respiratory function in stroke patients.